With ducted air conditioning, you’ll enjoy comfort all year round. It does, however, attract a cost. If you’re wondering how much your air conditioning is costing to keep you cool in summer and toasty warm in winter, you’re not alone. Our team of experts has put together this helpful guide covering the costs of running ducted air conditioning and how you can cut down on your expenses without compromising on comfort.
How Much Does An Air Conditioner Cost To Run Each Hour?
While you might wonder how much your air conditioner’s costing you an hour, the answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think. Your personal expenses will depend on various factors, including the current price of energy, the size of the room the air conditioner is cooling, the quality of your home insulation, the local climate, the zoning capacity of your air conditioner, and the temperature your air conditioner’s set to.
Your ducted air conditioner could be costing as much as $3.50 per hour, and if you’re running it for six hours each day during summer you could be forking out $1700 on air conditioning alone.
How Can I Save Money On Expenses With My Air Conditioner?
As reverse cycle ducted air conditioners are an energy-efficient option, they are the preference for many Australian homeowners. There are simple things you can do to increase your energy efficiency and save money on your electricity expenses while operating your air conditioner.
Step 1: Protect Your Home From The Sun
If the sun is heating your home while the air conditioner’s running, you’ll make your unit work harder and end up costing yourself more in electricity expenses. Ensure your curtains and blinds are closed, especially in the heat of the afternoon, so your home will stay cool and you won’t need to use your air conditioner as readily.
Step 2: Cool Your Space With A Fan
Fans are cost-effective appliances which can provide effective climate control. You’ll most likely be spending as little as 5 cents an hour to run your fan, as compared to a much more costly air conditioner. A fan operating anti-clockwise during summer will force cooler air down, meaning you’ll be able to increase the temperature of your thermostat and save electricity during the summer months. In winter, change your fan to a clockwise setting to push warm air down. You’ll then be able to lower your thermostat, while still ensuring your home stays comfortable and warm.
Step 3: Employ Zoning
Ducted air conditioners that don’t have zoning capabilities will heat or cool rooms throughout your home to the same temperature. With zoning, you’ll be able to control how much air flows to different rooms, and you’ll even be able to turn off heating and cooling in particular rooms when it’s not required. With zoning, you won’t need to carry the whole cost of cooling your entire home in summer, but you’ll only pay for the electricity you use to cool the rooms you use.
Step 4: Keep Your Air Conditioner Maintained And Serviced
Your air conditioning unit will naturally deteriorate over time. It will show signs of wear and tear, and its efficiency will decrease as dust and dirt collect within the system and filters. Staying on top of regular servicing will ensure you prevent any loss of quality, and will maintain the cleanliness of your filters to deliver quality air, each and every time. Engaging a professional to service your air conditioner will help detect any faults or defects before they become significant problems. Air conditioning repairs can be extensive and costly, so arranging maintenance can help you to save money in the long run.
Contact Us Today
If you need an installation or repair of your home or commercial air conditioning system, get in touch with the professionals at Chill-Rite Refrigeration & Air Conditioning. We have years of experience in the industry, and our team has grown to include over 40 trained and licensed staff working across three branches in Dubbo, Orange and Mudgee, with services expanding across Parkes, Tamworth, and throughout the Central West. This makes us the largest, leading air conditioning and refrigeration provider west of the Blue Mountains!
With our 24/7 emergency call out service, you’ll have the peace of mind that your air conditioning and refrigeration issues will be resolved whenever they arise. All our work comes with a 5-year residential manufacturer’s warranty, so you’ll know we stand by the quality of our products and service. Contact us today to speak to our friendly team, to learn more about our services, or to request an installation quote or a repair.
